Well, just when I THOUGHT that MY school days were over, I had to THINK again because I've got an 8-year-old DAUGHTER who is going to the 3rd grade (and, who I'm proud to say, is in the Gifted and Talented Program). So....with that in mind, here is MY list.
1. Clothes, including panties, little training bras, socks, shoes--atleast TWO pair---sneakers and casuals, AND uniforms for her to wear on certain days (because she's grown out of almost EVERYTHING that she had last year);
2. Some school supplies (Luckily, I stocked up last year. So this year all I haveto do is replenish what she already used). And for those of you who are NOT parents of 3rd graders (or elementary students, for that matter), school supplies not only includes the regulars like bookbag, paper, and pencils, but they include GLUE, SCISSORS, RULERS, PENCIL BOXES, CRAYONS, CONSTRUCTION PAPER (you know, stuff that the SCHOOLS used to supply). And I'm not EVEN going to mention monies for lunch (the FULL price because she doesn't qualify for free or reduced lunch), field trips, and stuff like that. And my daughter has to have EXTRA amounts of this stuff because she's given extra work due to her involvement in the Gifted and Talented Program.
3. Purchasing a SAXAPHONE...yes, I said, a SAXAPHONE because 3rd grade students in the city of Richmond are able to begin learning how to play an instrument. My daughter chose...you guessed it, one of the MOST expensive instruments to play and that, of course, is the saxaphone. But I'm happy to allow her this opportunity because she's ALWAYS been an honor roll student, she's a good girl, and my husband and I are, THANK GOD, able to afford it (I didn't have this opportunity because back then my mother COULDN'T afford it).
4. A REPUTABLE after-school program because the one that my daughter was involved in only caters to kindergarteners through 2nd graders. I don't trust programs with places like the YMCA because, in my neighborhood, the kids are...not so well mannered.
And last, but not least, number 5.
LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS OF IBUPROFEN, because, as you can clearly see, my husband and I are going to need it.
Now get this. This is stuff that we need only for the BEGINNING of the school year. Of course, the school ALWAYS surprises us with something else here and there throughout the year. Believe me, by JANUARY, my daughter will need more stuff. And to add the CHERRY to this wonderful SUNDAE, my SON starts school in 2004!!!!
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Senior Year
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